What’s the Story? is a storytelling video series dedicated to learning what truly makes a great story, told through the lensof the world’s talent and practitioners of the craft in entertainment, marketing and beyond.

For over 20 years, prop master Scott Bauer has had a front row seat to plenty of interesting Hollywood stories. From TV to film, Bauer has seen how props have evolved and are important parts of the stories created — especially when brands are involved.

His first recollection of working with real products was in the early days of branded entertainment, scrambling to find a brand for the Judge Reinhold-led film Ping which he describes as “sort of a Home Alone, but instead of Macaulay Culkin, we had a chihuahua.” On his journey since then, he has been involved with projects that have included the Fox hit 24, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Pretty Little Liars, American Horror Story and more.

Today, as prop master at Disney ABC Television Group, he works with some of the world’s top brands, helping to drive authentic stories forward — and he certainly knows what it takes to make, tell and produce great ones. In Bauer’s mind, a key part of a strong story is for it to take the viewer on a journey and have them be surprised. There are plenty of great choices when it comes to surprise, but he points to a critical scene in the Robert DeNiro/Al Pacino classic Heat as a great example.

The best story Bauer has ever heard actually didn’t come from Hollywood pros — but instead a mall — and by one of his friends who he believes is the best storyteller he's ever heard. For those with (or even without) kids, it defies belief, but is one that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

The greatest story Bauer has ever told? There is certainly no shortage of options in his impressive career — but in his mind, he’s living it every day as a father to two daughters, loving the journey that is filled, like truly great stories, with plenty of surprises along the way.